VOL. NO. III, NO. 22 COMMUNISM in EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA November 1, 1954 on October 13, 1954, Herman E. Themas, a Federal Bureau
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FACTS FOR FIGHTING COMMUNISM Published Bi-lli'eekly by THE NATIONAL AMERICANISM C OMMISSION • The American Legion 700 North Pennsylvania Str<:d Indianapolis, Indiana • VOL. NO. III, NO. 22 Subscription rate 53.00 per year November 1, 1954 COMMUNISM IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA On October 13, 1954, Herman E. Themas, a Federal Bureau of Investigation confidential informant, testified before the Senate Internal Se.curity Subc crr:mittee regarding Communist Party activity in Eastern Pennsylvania. Thomas namea mqre than 60 residents in Philadelphia and about 150 persons in Bethlehem, Allentown, Easton and Bucks County "as present or past members of the Communist Party." {See "The Philadelphia Inquirer", 10-14-54, page 1). Themas testified that the Communists in Eastern Pennsylvania "planned to sabotage heavy industry in Pennsylvania and Delaware." He said that "most Communist Party Sabotage Activity was aimed at Bethlehem Steel Corporation plants" and "The Ingersoll-Rand plant at Phillipsburg, New Jersey." {See "The Philadelphia Inquirer", 10-14-54, page 1). This testimony substantiates in practice, a current directive written in 1935, by J. Peters (real name R. Goldberger), who directed the Soviet Espionage Organization in the United states. This booklet, entitled "The Communist Party - A Manual On Organ ization", states in part that the Party should concentrate all its forces and energy to build shop units in the basic industries. The industries listed by Peters are those on which the whole economic system of the United States depends, such as steel, mining, oil, chemicals, transportation facilities, electric-power plants, steam and hydroelectric plants. (See HUAC, Colonization of America's Basic Industries By The Comrrrunist Party of the U. s. A., 1954, page 1). rt is quite apparent that party infiltration and sabotage activity in the Bethlehem Steel Corporation and Ingersoll-Rand plant have been a result of colonization. Colonization is "a Communist term used in referring to members of the Communist Party who enter basic industry employment at the demand of the Communist Party. Included in this category, are members of the Comnrunist underground apparatus." (See HUAC, Coloni zation of America's Basic Industries by the Communist Party of the u. S. A., 1954, page 14). The Philadelphia Inquirer of 10/14/54 page 4 reported that the following individuals were named by Thomas as present or past members of the Communist Party before the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee: "Jerry Marshall, Hal Rhienbolt, Sandy Smith, Lillian Lowenfels, Joseph Roberts, Hank Reitscher, Sam Lee, Norman Anderson, Irvin Katz, Ed Brill, Ike Kostrow, Mike Gates, Sterling Rochester, Ada Frankel, Jessie Schniederman, Sol Ruttenberg, William Hood, Ed strong, Goldie Watson, Jack Zucker, John Kelly, Ralph Glick, Robert Klonsky, Abe Sokolov, Ralph Shaw, Gene Hood, Al Moss, Rose Gaulden, Carl Rieve, Joseph Kuzma, Sam Darcy, -2- Thomas Nabried., Dave Davis, Sam Donchin., Elsie Smith, Irving Fleet, Sidney Fox., Vince Pieri. Frank Cestre., Marcella Sloane, Bob Morrell, Jake Feldenstein., Ethel Manning, Esther Soler., Helen Weiss., Walter Lowenfels., John Devine., Jules Abercauph, Reuben Carr, Mary Forbes, Bill Moody., Morris Mohl., May Morrell., Elaine Feldenstein., Ollie Holmes, Hank Rhine., Phil Bart, Selma Weiss, Sherman Labovitz., Ben Schoen., ]~ac Wiener., Estelle Schoen., Bunny Wiener., and Lillian Narins. Following is the Communist Party membership identified by Thomas, in the Bethlehem., Pa • ., "City Club." Mark Pavelich., John Babiriak., Wendell Gonz., Julius Nemish, William Erney., Mother Bloor-deceased; Joe Kuzma., Ruth Stone., wife of Mort Stone., Alfred Spiegel, Nellie Keen., Lillian Babiriak (Mrs. John Babiriak); Helen Pavelich (Mrs. Mark Pavelich); Thomas Russianio., Boyd Paul, Fred Marr., John Szabo., Joe Szabo., Charles Sakovitz. Communist membership listed by Thomas in the Bethlehem Steel Club: Charles Spencer., Joe Picucci, William Charles Erney., Fred Marr, Rufus Middleton., Bill iam Transue. Membership listed in Bethlehem Steel Club No. 1: Joe Picucci., Herman Solatran., employed at Bethlehem Woodcraft; Al Heller., Frank Ritter (real name William Power), John Szabo. Professional Club; Membership listed in Bethlehem "Professional Club": Scott Nichol., -William Nichol., son of Scott; Maude Nichol., wife of Scott, Morris Onethal and wife Anne. Women's Club; Reading - Corr.munist Party: Edith Solatran., Marty Heller., Mrs. William Power '(nlm kr.onnas Ritter). Reading., Pe .• Membership: Bob Jaffe., Harry Brown., "Red" Eddy. Comrr,unists listed in the so-called "Fur Club" in Easton: George Merlo., Joe Beleshta, Robert Miller., Art O'Hare., Morris Slater, Ernest Moyer. Steel Club ]'To. ·2, Faston, 'Pa.: Robert r'iller ,· Harold Allen. Professional Club., Easton: Billie Jane Lipsett., Ted Norton, Dr. David Brooks and wife., Russel Ames and wife., Jean and Jack Edelhart., Belle Saunders. Bucks County Club: Leo Ars., :Morris Chazin and wife., Sid Gree.don and wife, Julius Lehman., John Lehman., father of Julius, Fred Wrigley, Andy Olmholt, husband of Mother Bloor, Joe Herman., Sr., and wife., Frank Kinces and wife., Sarah Ualsh Wepman. Larry Horowitz. Section committee of the Lehigh Valley and Bucks county sec·cion of the Communist Party: Joe Kuzman., Dorothy Boyer., Ted Norton., Sam Ciofalo and Mother Bloor. The "Allentown City Club" Communist membership included: Irving Riskin., Adele Riskin., David Karol., Dolly Seabourne., Morris Klein., Dmitri Karpovich., Jane Schwartz., June Merkin., Sally Smith., Joe Rucoio and his wife., Steaphine." (See 11 The Philadelphia Inquirer"., 10-14-54, page 4). AMERICAN UBOR PARTY In a 1944 report., the Special Committee on Un-American Activities stated that "for years, the Comrrllnists have put forth the greatest efforts to capture the entire American Labor Party throughout New York State. They succeeded in capturing the Manhattan and Brooklyn sections of the American Labor Party, but outside of New York City they have been unable to win control." In 1948, the California Committee On Un American Activities stated that the American Labor Party is "among organizations that are victims of Communist domination." (See HUAC., Guide To Subversive Organizations and Publications., 1951., page 19). John T. McManus American Labor Party Candidate for Governor r-.a.s been affiliated with over 14 organizations and publications that have been cited as subversive and Communist by the United States Attorney General, House Committee on Un-American Activities., and the California Committee on Un-American .Activities. McManus has been affiliated with the American Youth For Democracy., Civil Rights Congress., ~chappes Defense Committee., Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee and the National Federation for Constitutional Liberties. Those organizations have been cited as subversive and Comrrrunist by the U. s. -3- Attorney General. (See HUAC, Review of the Scientific and Cultural Conference For World Peace, 1949, pages 22, 25, 28 and 37; HUAC, Appendix IX, 1944, page 1561). McManus has l;reen a.ffil ia.ted with the Jeffers on School of Social Science, which was cited as a.n adjunct of the Comnrunist Party in 1947 by the u. s. Attorney General. (See "The Firing Line", 8-15-54, page l; HUAC, Review of the Scientific a.nd Cultural Conference For World Peace, 1949, page 28; HUAC, Guide To Subversive Organizations and Publications, 1951, page 67. McManus has had affiliations with the Peoples Radio Foundation, Inc., Pro gressive Citizens of America, Stage For Action, Voice of Freedom Committee, and was a. sponsor of the Scientific and Cultural Conference For World Pea.ca in 1949. (See HUAC, Review of the Scientific and Cultural Conference For li'Jorld Peace, 1949, pages 32, 33, 34, 35 and 59). McManus is presently the General Manager of the "National Guardian", the official organ of the Progressive Party in the United States. (See "National Guardian", 10-18-54, page 2). In 1949, he was listed as a. s ponsor of the African Aid Committee, and partici pated in forming the National Com.~ittee To Secure Justice In The Rosenberg Case in 1952. (See "Daily Worker", 1-3-52; African Aid Committee letterhead, 5-28-49). In 1950, he sponsored the Stockholm Appeal, which was officially known as the Stockholm Peace Petition, and cited as Communist by the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1950. (See HUAC, Report On The Communist Peace Offensive, 1951, pa.ge 131; HUAC Guide To Subversive Organizations and Publications, 1951, pa.ge 106). Karen Morely, American Labor Party candidate for Lieut. Governor has been identified as a Communist by six witnesses under oa.th before th,e House Committee on Un American Activities in 1951 and 1952. On November 13, 1952, she appeared before the Committee and refused to affirm or deny Communist Party membership. (See HUAC, Annual Re port of the Committee on Un-American Activities, 1952, page 50). She was a National Sponsor of the Spanish Refugee Appeal of the Joint Anti Fascist Refugee Committee in 1949, and wa.s a s peaker at a. meeting sponsored by the New York Civil Rights Congress in 1952. These organizations ha.ve been cited as subversive by the U. s. Attorney General. In 1951, she sponsored the American Peace Crusade, a.nd urged clemency for Ethel a.nd Julius Rosenberg in 1953. (See "Daily Worker", 12-23-52, pa.ge 8, 1-21-53, pa.ge 7; HUAC, Report On The Communist Peace Offensive, 1951, pa.ge 139). According to the Na.tiona.l Gua.rdia.n of October 18, 1954 pa.ge 9 the American Labor Party Qandidates